WR FAQ Electric Air Cleaner

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How often should I clean my Collecting Cells and Prefilters?

Once every 3 to 4 months is a sufficient cleaning schedule for most residential installations.

What is the BEST way to clean the Collecting Cells and Prefilters?

White-Rodgers recommends soaking the cells and prefilters in a tub of hot, soapy water for about 30-60 minutes. (Use a low-sudsing detergent such as Wisk laundry detergent. Dish soaps tend to be too mild to do an effective cleaning job. Also, a NON-ACIDIC coil cleaner can be used. You should be able to purchase this type of cleaner from any local Heating & Cooling service company.) Wipe down each ionizing wire with a soft cloth or toothbrush. Then rinse the cells and prefilters with clear, hot water. Lay them flat to dry. (Drying time can be expedited by placing the cells and prefilters back in the cabinet, and running your furnace blower. However, make sure that the switch to the air cleaner is in the OFF position).

I have tried all the checks listed above and I am still not clear on the results I am getting. What should I do now?

White-Rodgers has authorized several companies throughout the United States to act as service centers. They can test the units and/or send parts directly to you. They are listed by state in factory authorized service centers.

My Operating Light is ON, but I still have a lot of dust in my house. Is my Air Cleaner Working?

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Most likely it is. Dust, by it’s very nature is heavy and will gravitate towards the ground and your furniture. The Electronic Air cleaner WILL collect the dust that goes through it, however, there is no air cleaner manufactured that will remove ALL the dust from your house. If you still feel that the air cleaner is not performing, you may perform the following test:

Wrap some white cheese cloth around HALF of your cold air return grille. Also wrap some white cheese cloth around HALF of one of your supply registers.

Run the system normally for about 2 - 4 weeks.

Visually compare how dirty each of the two pieces of cheese cloth are. If the unit IS working properly, the cloth from the cold air return will be dirtier. If the unit IS NOT working, both pieces of cheese cloth will look dirty.

Why is my Operating light flickering? Why is the unit 'snapping' so much?

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The Collecting Cells may be excessively dirty or have a foreign object lodged between the plates.

Remove the cells from the cabinet and wash thoroughly (see Question #6, below). Visually inspect the cells for any foreign debris lodged between the plates. Also, inspect for broken ionizing wires, chipped or cracked insulators, or bent plates.

When replacing cells in the cabinet, make sure the directional arrow on the cells point toward your furnace blower compartment. Also ensure that the cell contact button points toward the power pack.

Why is my Operating Light OFF?

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Power is not being supplied to the air cleaner.

Make sure that the ON/OFF switch is placed in the ON position.

Make sure that your furnace blower is running and check for voltage at the air cleaner junction box. If there is no voltage, then check your fuses and/or circuit breakers.

Problem in one of the air cleaner components. Remove the Power Pack (front door) from the air cleaner cabinet. Take both Collecting Cells out of the cabinet and set them aside. Re-attach the Power Pack (with the switch in the OFF position) to the cabinet. Start your furnace blower. Then turn the switch to the unit to the ON position. Observe what happens with the Operating Light:

If the operating light comes ON and stays ON, the problem lies in one or both of the collecting cells. To test the collectingcells individually:

Cut a piece of a 2 by 4 to equal the length of one of the collecting cells. (This 2 by 4 will be used as a spacer, so that you can test one cell at a time)

Slide the 2 by 4 to the rear of the cabinet.

Slide one collecting cell up against the 2 by 4.

Attach the Power Pack to the cabinet with the switch in the OFF position.

Start your furnace blower.

Turn the switch on the power pack to the ON position. If the operating light stays ON, then the cell you are testing is operational. If the light does not come on, then the cell has a problem. The problem cell should be serviced by your Heating & Cooling service person or one of the factory authorized service centers to determine if it can be repaired, or if it needs to be replaced. Repeat steps C through F with the other collecting cell.

If the operating light DOES NOT come ON at all, then replace the Power Supply Board inside the Power Pack.

If the light comes ON, and then turns OFF after about 10 seconds then replace the Air Flow Monitor Board.

When should my Operating Light be ON?

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When power is being supplied to the air cleaner, AND

The Furnace Blower is running, producing air flow, AND

The Collecting Cells are clean and functioning normally.

My question is not covered in this FAQ sheet. Who should I speak with?

The function that the charcoal filters perform is neutralizing odors and making the air smell fresher. While there is no rule of thumb for how often they should be changed, you can use your best judgment based on the odors you perceive in your house.(e.g. cooking odors, pet odors, cigar and cigarette odors, etc..) You will need to replace the charcoal filters more often if you have many odors, maybe 3 or 4 times a year.